This song was played first around the St. Louis area back in 1963. As you can see by the record number, this was actually the A-side of this 45. However, the B-side, "Wildwood Days," became the hit recording for Bobby Rydell back in the summer of '63.

Enjoy

Beatles For Sale Remastered

My look at the new Beatles remastered CDs continues with Beatles For Sale. In England, this was their 4th LP release. Here in America, the bulk of this album was better known as Beatles 65. For me, as lover of and a collector of Beatles music, this is the first decent sounding recording they did in stereo. You might know that the first 4 Beatles CDs originally released in 1987 were taken from the mono masters. This was a decision that I liked at the time they came out. When I learned of the new CDs, I decided the first one I would covet would be Beatles For Sale. Well, after listening to the disc, I think I was right on with that decision.

A one word description of this CD is “stunning.” However, I’m not one to limit myself to one word descriptions. Let’s just say this CD has the general characteristics of the other new remastered discs. The bass is enhanced, as is the overall charity of the recordings. The surprise, for me are the sounds I’d never heard in the first CD reissues. And, there are a few tracks that really stand out.

Here’s a brief track-by-track description. No Reply and I’m a Loser are awesome. There are little sounds I’d not heard before in both songs. The first of the tracks that make me say “WOW” is Baby’s In Black. On this gem you hear all sorts of different things, especially with the guitar playing, that just stand out making this song a must hear.

Rock and Roll Music does Chuck Berry proud. On one verse, one of the guitars disappears for some unknown reason and this is heard quite clear. Paul’s I’ll Follow The Sun has always sounded good, on vinyl and on CD. Well this version sounds even better to my ears.

Now we’re up to another one of those special tracks, John’s remake of Dr. Feelgood and the Interns Mr. Moonlight. The unique organ part is brought out in this remastered goodie. Plus you really hear John’s voice crack when he opens the song screeching “Mr. moonlight.” What a treat for the ear.

Next Paul does his best Little Richard on Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey, which is actually a medley of two songs from Little Richard. The version of Kansas City is a remake of the Little Richard version of the often recorded song. And boy it sure sounds great.

Then comes another of the gems on this CD, Eight Days a Week. I was actually tipped off to listen for this one with a write-up I’d read on the Internet. It’s much fuller then the 45, LP version, or the version on the first Beatles For Sale CD from 1987. Everything in this song from the hand clapping to the harmony stand out crisp and clear.

The next two songs are Buddy Holly’s Words of Love and Carl Perkin’s Honey Don’t. Both are remakes of the originals and both continue with this bright, full sound on the new disc.

Every Little Thing is another of those songs that really stick out as nothing short of outstanding on this new recording. You hear the instruments in a new way, especially the timpani Ringo plays. It adds it’s booming sound to the enhancement on this disc.

I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party is another delight and a surprise. This is one of those Beatles songs I’ve sort of dismissed, or passed by in the past. The new remastered version makes it hard to pass over now. All the clear sounding guitar work and the always great John and Paul harmonies are great.

Paul’s What You’re Doing is next and like the rest of this outstanding work, it sounds great. You hear the piano work, and all the rest of the instruments as clear as a bell. It’s like you’re there when they recorded the song.

Finally, George rocks out with another Carl Perkins remake, Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby. You hear the little things in the guitar work that make this a rockabilly delight.

Overall, this is another gem of a disc to listen to over and over and over again. Like the other discs I’ve talked about, the packaging, pictures and video for the computer, are great. A final thought on these CDs is I told myself I was just going to get Abbey Road, the White Album, and Beatles For Sale for the moment. Well, after hearing all three of these disc sets, I find I will buy others. Sgt. Pepper will probably be next for me.

The Beatles (the White Album) Pt. 2

Some of the more dramatically different sounding tracks on this set are on disc two. We start with Birthday and Yer Blues. In both cases, the overall sound is brighter and fuller then the original 1987 CD release. Listen for those little things in the background that I’ve been talking about. The keyboards on Birthday are crisp. The guitars on Yer Blues are clean sounding. Paul’s Mother Natures Son continues with the more fuller sound theme. The horns in the background boom out over the acoustic guitar and the clear vocals.

Now we’re up to four tracks that stand out as much improved sounding songs. Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey has a lot going on; and I mean more than just an eleven word title. That cow bell rings lout like it never has in previous issues of the song. Put the headset on, and listen to the driving guitar reverberate across your brain. John gets two in a row with the haunting Sexy Sadie. I’ve always found this to be a unique sounding song; and you can hear it all now on this remastered gem. Once again, there’s that haunting guitar over a piano with echo on it. And, there’s that background vocal.

Helter Skelter surprised me. This has been one of my least favorite songs on this recording; but I have to admit, the newly remastered sound brings it to a new light. Long, Long, Long carries on with that haunting thing again. Just listen to that organ and the overblown vibrato.

Revolution 1 was intended to be a single release off of the album. It was decided the song was too slow and that turned out to be a good thing for Beatles fans because they then recorded the version we got on that first Apple 45; however, the LP version sounds great. The horns in the background come out to the foreground. Then Paul gives us Honey Pie; this is a track that can go overlooked, but don’t overlook it when you get the new CDs. It’s reborn anew now.

I was tipped off about Savoy Truffle before I heard the new CD. On the disc, I find sounds I never dreamed were part of the original recording. It almost sounds like the horns in the background were rerecorded; but they were not. This song might be the most dramatic in sound improvement on this set. George wrote a fine tune; and now we really hear it.

The next two tracks are pretty much John Lennon. Cry Baby Cry sure sounds good. The now familiar echo on John’s voice rings out. I guess John owes a special debt to Les Paul for inventing that technique. Then John Lennon takes on another ‘magical mystery tour’ with Revolution 9. You might be tempted to pass over this 8 minute and 22 second experiment; well do yourself a favor and put the headphones on and give it a listen, at least once. You’ll hear things you didn’t hear before.

Disc two finishes up with Richard Starkey singing the vocals on the orchestral Good Night. Like most orchestral music on CD, this is a keeper when it comes to sound. The strings, the harp, the voices, we hear it all.

In conclusion, I was not disappointed with the White Album. I had planned to get a copy of this set, along with Abbey Road, when I heard they were going to do all this remastering. Oh, by the way, you do get a copy of the poster that was part of the original LP, although this one is smaller in size.

There is one other CD I had initially planned to get, and I’ll tell you about it next; so keep watching the blog.